Anti-seal device for use with ostomy appliances

Abstract

A sleeve-like element having at least one opening in a wall to permit the flow of body wastes from a stoma to a pouch while preventing a wall of the pouch from blocking the discharge end of said stoma. Said sleeve-like element protects the stoma from accidental external forces and allows a user to firm up the critical adhesive area surrounding the stoma following the attachment and assembly of the system. The sleeve-like element is readily cleanable for re-use.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved ostomy appliance for collecting waste material emitted from a human body through a stoma, said appliance comprising: a diaphragm having an aperture adapted to permit the stoma to enter and project slightly therethrough;   first means for attaching said diaphragm to the body;   a pouch having an inner wall and an outer wall, said walls being joined along peripheral edge margins thereof for storing body waste materials emitted from the stoma, said inner wall having an opening to allow the entrance of the waste material into said pouch, said pouch opening being in register with said diaphragm aperture;   second means for attaching said pouch to said diaphragm so as to define a passageway adapted to allow the passage of the waste material from the stoma into said pouch;   a cup-like anti-seal device located within said pouch between said outer wall and said diaphragm and having a completely closed end which faces said pouch outer wall, a cylindrical side wall peripherally secured at one end thereof to said closed end, said side wall having at least one opening therein and a thickness sufficient to maintain said outer pouch wall away from the stoma, said side wall defining an open end of said device opposite said closed end, said open end positioned within said pouch to contact said diaphragm, to be inserted into said opening and to circumscribe the stoma so as to maintain said outer wall away from the stoma, such that externally applied pressure to said closed end is conveyed around the entire periphery of the stoma and the stoma is protected from direct impact.   
     
     
       2. The appliance defined in claim 1 wherein said sidewall is provided with three elongate openings therein. 
     
     
       3. The appliance defined in claim 1, wherein said closed end of said side wall is coaxial with said aperture of said diaphragm.